The Weekly Roll January 2nd 2026
Jan 02, 2026
Happy Friday!
Welcome back to The Weekly Roll and Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a lovely week! Here is what’s happening this week in cannabis and art:
3 Trends to watch for 2026 : The U.S. cannabis industry enters 2026 with potential relief from the burdensome 280E tax code following President Trump's executive order, which could free up $400,000-$800,000 per store annually that's currently locked in extra tax liability. Active cannabis licenses have declined 13% over two years, primarily driven by a 24% drop in cultivation permits, suggesting the market is correcting from oversaturation. Meanwhile, intense competition has pushed retailers to offer steep discounts averaging 35-39% in some states to maintain sales and customer traffic. Article
SAM Hires Barr to fight Rescheduling : Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) has hired former Attorney General Bill Barr to sue and block federal marijuana rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule III once the rule is finalized, calling it a "full betrayal" and "public health disaster." The group opposes the reform primarily because it would allow cannabis businesses to take federal tax deductions worth over $2 billion, which SAM argues would enable industry expansion and wider marijuana availability. Article
Interesting Number : $2.5 Billion. New York's legal cannabis market surpassed $2.5 billion in sales with licensed dispensaries more than doubling to 556 in 2025, generating over $360 million in tax revenue. Despite this growth, the market has been hampered by regulatory failures, including the second OCM executive director resignation in two years after bungled enforcement cases. Critics say ongoing illicit market activity and administrative missteps continue to undermine licensed operators and prevent the legal market from reaching its potential. Article
Rockwell Family Clarifies P0litics : Norman Rockwell's granddaughter declared "Norman Rockwell was antifa" after the Department of Homeland Security used his paintings to promote conservative messages about protecting "our American way of life." The Rockwell family publicly rebutted DHS's appropriation, saying the artist would be "devastated" to see his work used for anti-immigrant causes when he was explicitly anti-segregationist. Rockwell stated he was "continuously trying to eradicate" his own prejudices and declined projects that conflicted with his values, including a Marine Corps poster during the Vietnam War. Article
Have a great weekend!
Aidan